Chloë Grace Moretz on Her Beauty Obsessions—and Why Biggie Is The Best Soundtrack for Bikram Yoga

One look at Chloë Grace Moretz—dressed in navy sailor pants and a lace-trimmed plaid blouse that marries Western panache and ladylike polish—and it’s clear why Coach creative director Stuart Vevers tapped her as the face of the fashion house two years ago. The Los Angeles–based actress exudes a sense of unfettered confidence that pegs her beyond a precocious 19, which makes her a fitting ambassador for the brand’s elevated romp through youth culture. As Vevers once put it, “The French have chic; Americans have cool,” and now Moretz is lending her down-to-earth star power to another pillar of the 75-year-old company: a new perfume launching this month. “The work I’ve done at Coach, it’s not about being weighted down by old codes of luxury; it’s about looking at what the next generation cares about,” explains Vevers. “I think Chloë represents that in many ways—this idea of freedom and ease.”

It might be Moretz’s first time fronting a fragrance—the campaign, photographed by Steven Meisel, captures her on a road trip at magic hour—but her passion for beauty is a long time in the making. “My brother, Trevor, started me on under-eye cream at 10 years old!” the actress recalls with a laugh. “It was La Mer, of course. Ever since then I have been obsessed with skin care.” Now, she’s as quick to gush about her holistic facialist (“RPK, at Dr. Lancer’s office—she’s my girl”) or her go-to colorist (Lorri Goddard) as she is to defend her hands-off approach to brows. Here, Moretz chats with Vogue.com about her fearless philosophy when it comes to fragrance cocktailing, her love of drugstore makeup, and her unusual choice of face wash.

What is your personal approach to perfume—are you a fragrance faithful?No! I jump around a lot. Fragrance has been a really big deal in my life for years. My mom wore Gucci Rush all the time. Samsara [by Guerlain] is my grandmother’s smell. And [Viktor & Rolf’s] Flowerbomb was my first real scent. At 16, I went to Byredo and did Gypsy Water and later Bal d’Afrique. Then I moved to Le Labo, with Santal [33] and Thé Noir [29]. Even now, I mix different scents using essential oils.

Do you custom-blend notes with the Coach fragrance, too?Yeah! This one mixes really well because it has undertones of musk and sandalwood, but also the raspberry leaf and Turkish rose give you a springtime flavor. It really feels like the modern-day young woman. There’s a leather kind of feel as well as this fruity femininity, which I think is actually a revelation right now. We are all learning to be powerful CEOs, but we don’t have to be aggressive and hard just to be successful.

Are you as invested in your skin care?I am so obsessed. My friends always come to me for beauty tips in terms of healthy skin. I use like 12 different creams!

Any highlights?It’s a long list! First, I wash my skin with olive oil—straight-up olive oil. You rub it on your face until it all comes off clear. Next come the sensitive polish and the sensitive wash by Dr. Lancer. I use these Babor yellow gold essential oils, which are a dream. And Lucas’ Papaw ointment is my go-to. I cover my lips in it, and then I put it underneath my eyes. Hydration is key.

What about sunscreen, given your upbringing in California?That was a huge thing growing up. I used to fight my brother so hard! L.A. is such a warm-weather culture, it’s hard to not be tan. Now I get why I wore sunscreen, and I am very happy with my skin.

What are your day-to-day makeup essentials?Pat McGrath’s glow stick is amazing. I’m completely obsessed. I don’t wear any makeup anymore when I’m not working—just that little bit of shimmer. And then Chantecaille cover stick, underneath the eyes and in the nasiolabial fold. An eyebrow brush and eyebrow gel, too. That’s all you need.

And for a night out?My go-to is a good smoky eye with a nude pink-y lip. Sometimes I’ll do a red lip, but you know I’m having a really wild night! I honestly use some of the cheapest stuff. I like Revlon color palettes, or L’Oreal. It works!

Where does fitness fit in for you?Obviously it’s a part of my job. I enjoy being fit, but for me it’s a mental obsession. When I don’t work out, I just am literally not as happy as when I work out. I love the endorphin rush. It’s my time to myself. [I do] SoulCycle for solid cardio, and then Y7, which is like hot Bikram yoga but it’s vinyasa. I like it because they play Biggie and Tupac, so it’s fun and more upbeat. And I have this Pilates instructor, Kim Carruthers, who is a total badass. She’s dope.

Is being comfortable in your own skin something that comes naturally to you as an actress? I’m thinking of the bikini scenes in Neighbors 2.Well, I grew up in front of the camera—I’ve been acting since I was 6 years old—so I’ve never had a real issue with it. But it definitely is different when you are doing something like comedy, where you’re opening yourself up and you know it’s going to be seen by millions of people. You really just have to give in because it’s wild anyway.

Do you have any beauty vices?Healthy eating is a big one. People don’t understand how much it actually does affect your skin. Like, I had pizza last night, and I know for a fact I am going to break out tomorrow!

I hope it was worth it! Where did you go?Emmett’s Pizza! Everyone, go there—run! It’s on Macdougal and Houston [in New York City]. You have to get the Peggy O and the Hot Papi, on the thin crust. That’s my favorite. It will blow your mind.